Criminal Justice (Courts)

introduced · Ohio · House Jul 13, 2026

HB 975: Allow officer to petition for removal from a Brady-Giglio list

To amend section 149.43 and to enact section 2901.51 of the Revised Code to allow a law enforcement officer to petition the court to remove the officer's name from a prosecutor's Brady-Giglio list.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill allows officers to petition for removal from Brady-Giglio lists, enhancing police accountability and protecting civil rights by enabling correction of potentially erroneous exclusions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement

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in committee · Ohio · House May 20, 2026

HB 924: Create the court-appointed public defender loan repayment program

HB 924 establishes a new loan repayment program for attorneys working as court-appointed public defenders in Ohio. Under this initiative, the state public defender office will repay up to $50,000 of eligible educational loans for lawyers who commit to working at least 1,000 hours per year for a total of ten consecutive years or fifteen nonconsecutive years within a twenty-year span. To qualify, applicants must have made timely monthly payments on their loans, not be enrolled in other federal or state debt forgiveness programs, and hold a license in good standing. The program is administered through rules set by the state public defender, which will include procedures for applications, verification of information, and public inquiries. Funding for these repayments will come from a dedicated state treasury account established to receive donations, gifts, and bequests specifically for this purpose.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes a loan repayment program for public defenders, directly increasing funding for essential legal services and public officials.85% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens the public defender system by funding loan repayment, ensuring adequate legal representation for indigent defendants.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Debt & Bonds Courts

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in committee · Ohio · House May 20, 2026

HB 935: Let criminal court make certain mental capacity determinations

To amend sections 149.43, 2101.24, 2108.90, 2945.38, 2945.39, 2945.401, 5122.01, 5122.02, 5122.03, 5122.05, 5122.09, 5122.10, 5122.11, 5122.111, 5122.112, 5122.12, 5122.13, 5122.14, 5122.141, 5122.15, 5122.20, 5122.23, 5122.25, 5122.26, 5122.27, 5122.271, 5122.29, 5122.31, 5122.311, 5122.35, 5122.36, 5122.38, 5122.41, 5122.43, 5123.01, 5123.21, 5123.39, 5123.57, 5123.58, 5123.61, 5123.70, 5123.71, 5123.73, 5123.74, 5123.75, 5123.76, 5123.79, 5123.81, 5123.811, 5123.86, 5123.89, 5123.92, 5123.95, 5123.96, and 5123.97 and to enact section 5122.051 of the Revised Code to allow a criminal court to determine whether a defendant is a mentally ill person subject to a court order or a person with an intellectual disability subject to institutionalization if the criminal court is determining whether the defendant is competent to stand trial.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill allows courts to determine mental capacity, aligning with criminal justice reform by addressing mental health needs and potentially reducing recidivism through better rehabilitation.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · Ohio · Senate May 20, 2026

SR 359: Urge Court to encourage remote testimony of sexual assault nurses

To urge the Supreme Court of Ohio and the Ohio judicial system to encourage remote appearances of sexual assault nurse examiners in sexual assault trials so that sexual assault nurse examiners can spend less time in courtrooms and more time providing valuable services to victims of sexual assault.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill promotes efficient use of forensic resources in sexual assault trials, aiding victim care and streamlining judicial processes.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill aims to improve patient access and reduce burden on sexual assault nurse examiners, allowing them to focus more on victim care.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Violent Crime Healthcare Workforce

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in committee · Ohio · House May 20, 2026

HB 897: Require trauma-informed care training for guardians ad litem

To enact section 2151.282 of the Revised Code to require trauma-informed care training for guardians ad litem and court-appointed special advocates in child welfare proceedings.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates trauma-informed care training for guardians, enhancing juvenile justice proceedings and protecting vulnerable children's rights.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · Ohio · House Feb 18, 2026

HB 705: Enact the Alford Plea Fairness Act

To amend sections 2929.12, 2929.15, and 2929.25 of the Revised Code to prohibit a sentencing court from imposing, as a condition of community control, a requirement that the offender admit guilt if the offender was found guilty after entering an Alford plea and to name this act the Alford Plea Fairness Act.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits courts from forcing Alford plea defendants to admit guilt, protecting defendant rights and advancing sentencing fairness per criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Sentencing

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in committee · Ohio · House Feb 18, 2026

HB 680: Regards criminal defendant substance use disorder, mental health

HB 680 prevents judges from mandating that criminal defendants receive substance use disorder or mental health treatment exclusively at for-profit or nonprofit (including faith-based) facilities solely based on the entity's organizational status. It directly affects defendants in court cases involving substance use or mental health treatment requirements. The bill's key provision prohibits judges from requiring treatment at any specific type of provider (for-profit vs. nonprofit) as a condition of their case. This bill is currently in the early stages, having been introduced on February 4, 2026, and referred to committee on February 18.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePrevents judges from mandating treatment at specific facility types, expanding defendant access to diverse treatment options and supporting rehabilitation-focused sentencing.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents judicial mandates restricting mental health/substance use treatment to specific provider types, promoting access to care without artificial barriers.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Drug Policy Mental Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · Ohio · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 626: Require courts to supply electronic notification of hearings

To enact section 2709.01 of the Revised Code to require courts to supply electronic notification of hearings to defendants in criminal and traffic cases and to make an appropriation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly makes an appropriation (funding allocation) for court electronic notification systems, directly advancing public service funding under budget management.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires electronic hearing notifications for defendants, improving due process and access to court proceedings in criminal cases, aligning with defendant rights protection.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Courts

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in committee · Ohio · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 241: Regards dog quarantine, disposition hearing, after a dog attack

To amend section 955.222 and to enact section 955.13 of the Revised Code to require a 10-day quarantine period for a dog following an attack and to require a court, under certain circumstances, to hold a hearing to determine the dog's disposition.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill requires courts to hold hearings for dog dispositions, directly engaging the judicial system, a component of criminal justice.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · Ohio · House Oct 21, 2025

HCR 26: Summons Hon. Ted N. Berry to show cause re: removal from office

Summoning the Honorable Ted N. Berry, Judge of the Hamilton County Municipal Court, to appear before the General Assembly and show cause why he should not be removed from office under Article IV, Section 17 of the Ohio Constitution.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill initiates a process for potential removal of a municipal court judge, a mechanism for judicial accountability within the criminal justice system.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Judges

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